NFA encourages growing of indigenous trees
EDITOR: In a letter, "NFA should advise farmers to plant local trees" Andrew Okello in Harvesting Money pullout on Tuesday seemed to appreciate the National Forestry Authority’s (NFA’s) role in promoting tree-planting.
EDITOR: In a letter, "NFA should advise farmers to plant local trees" Andrew Okello in Harvesting Money pullout on Tuesday seemed to appreciate the National Forestry Authority’s (NFA’s) role in promoting tree-planting.
It is very encouraging for us at NFA to note that Ugandans like him appreciate our role as the lead agency in forest conservation and providing quality fruit and tree seedlings for reafforestation.
We would like though, to correct his insinuation that NFA specifically promotes planting exotic tree species like pine and eucalyptus. On the contrary, NFA encourages Ugandans to plant more indigenous trees like mvule, mahogany and shear-nut trees not only because some of these species are now endangered but because they are also more adaptable to local conditions, absorb more carbon (stabilize climate), support other aspects of bio-diversity conservation and agro-forestry.
However, because exotic trees like pine and eucalyptus mature faster (within 20 years), most tree farmers opt for them other than indigenous ones which take longer (over 30 years).
Through NFA’s interaction with tree farmers over time, we have ascertained that the shorter maturity period and quicker returns on investment has a greater bearing on the heavy investment in exotic trees than a lack of knowledge about benefits accruing from indigenous species.
To maintain significant local tree cover, NFA is, under the Government’s national tree-planting project, providing freely mainly indigenous tree seedlings to communities. To further ensure ecological stability,
NFA also protects and conserves natural forests (with mainly indigenous trees) and maintains plantation forest reserves (with exotic trees) for sustainable timber and fuel-wood extraction.
Ugandans are free to contact NFA for seedlings and expert advice regarding tree-planting.
Moses Watasa
Public Relations Manager
National Forestry Authority
It is very encouraging for us at NFA to note that Ugandans like him appreciate our role as the lead agency in forest conservation and providing quality fruit and tree seedlings for reafforestation.
We would like though, to correct his insinuation that NFA specifically promotes planting exotic tree species like pine and eucalyptus. On the contrary, NFA encourages Ugandans to plant more indigenous trees like mvule, mahogany and shear-nut trees not only because some of these species are now endangered but because they are also more adaptable to local conditions, absorb more carbon (stabilize climate), support other aspects of bio-diversity conservation and agro-forestry.
However, because exotic trees like pine and eucalyptus mature faster (within 20 years), most tree farmers opt for them other than indigenous ones which take longer (over 30 years).
Through NFA’s interaction with tree farmers over time, we have ascertained that the shorter maturity period and quicker returns on investment has a greater bearing on the heavy investment in exotic trees than a lack of knowledge about benefits accruing from indigenous species.
To maintain significant local tree cover, NFA is, under the Government’s national tree-planting project, providing freely mainly indigenous tree seedlings to communities. To further ensure ecological stability,
NFA also protects and conserves natural forests (with mainly indigenous trees) and maintains plantation forest reserves (with exotic trees) for sustainable timber and fuel-wood extraction.
Ugandans are free to contact NFA for seedlings and expert advice regarding tree-planting.
Moses Watasa
Public Relations Manager
National Forestry Authority